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India Today

India’s own map in the sky

On 30 October, India plans to send a new satellite into space. It will help phones and ships know where they are.
News Nibbles Edition 3 · Saturday 24 October 2026· Page 10 of the paper
IndiaNVS-03(going up on 30 Oct)
Satellites send signals that tell a phone where it is. A drawing.

Have you seen a map on a phone show where you are? The phone is listening to satellites: machines that go round and round Earth, high up in space. India has its own group of these satellites. It is called NavIC.

Navik means “sailor” in Hindi. Sailors need to know where they are at sea!

Why a new satellite?

NavIC needs at least four working satellites. Right now, only three are working. The new one is called NVS-03. A big rocket will carry it up from Sriharikota, in Andhra Pradesh.

How does it work?

Each satellite sends a message that says the exact time. The phone checks how long each message took to arrive. That tells it how far away each satellite is. Then it can work out exactly where you are!

Find the treasure like a satellite!

The treasure is on all three dashed circles: one round the tree, one round the well and one round the hut. Find the one spot where all three circles cross, and mark it with an X.

Your phone does the same thing! Each satellite gives it a circle, and you are where the circles meet.

Did you know?Fishing boats use NavIC too. It can send storm warnings to fishermen far out at sea.
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